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Wales vs Scotland, Sat, 15/03/2014 - 14:45

Scotland will this year be looking for their first victory over Wales in seven years, their last coming in 2007 at Murrayfield when Chris Paterson kicked all the home team’s points in a 21-9 win.

Wales won the Grand Slam back in 2012 and defended their title again in 2013, sitting above England on points differential. With world-class talent in their squad including IRB World Player of the Year nominee Leigh Halfpenny and winning Lions captain Sam Warburton, Wales will once again be strong contenders for this year’s title.

Scotland 18 Wales 28, Murrayfield Stadium, Saturday 9 March 2013

The consistent and ever-reliable boot of Greig Laidlaw was not enough for Scotland to reign victorious over the eventual RBS 6 Nations Champions. A converted try from Welsh hooker Richard Hibbard, as well as seven successful penalties from full-back Leigh Halfpenny – despite unusual early jitters - was enough to stretch a ten point deficit which Scotland could not close.

A penalty on the stroke of half-time allowed Wales to go into the changing rooms a point in front at 13-12, however, the talking point of the half was what looked to be a serious leg injury for Scotland crowd favourite, Richie Gray.

The second half lacked glitz and glamour but by no means physicality and grit from either side. No tries were scored, with the only points being owed to the boot of Laidlaw and Halfpenny, allowing Wales to kick their way to a third consecutive win at Murrayfield.

Scotland 13 Wales 27, Millennium Stadium, Sunday 12 February 2012

Scotland kept their fans optimistic for an away win in the gladiatorial arena of the Millennium Stadium with a strong first half performance, however a surge from the home team in the opening quarter of the second half created a gulf which proved too great for Andy Robinson’s men to close.

The first half was relatively flat in terms of scoring, with a penalty-a-piece for Scotland’s Greig Laidlaw and Wales’ Leigh Halfpenny being the only points to report. Despite an enthralling open encounter, both teams looking to play fluid rugby, an inability to maintain possession in the right areas marred any try scoring opportunities for either side.

The second half proved a very different type of affair with yellow cards for Scotland’s centre Nick De Luca and full-back Rory Lamont providing the catalyst for a Welsh onslaught. The man who led the charge for Wales was Halfpenny, proving a constant thorn in the side of Scotland in scoring 22 of the 27 Welsh points through two tries, three conversions and two penalties – the other points coming from a first half try from winger Alex Cuthbert.